Colds and Influenza: What's the Difference?

Here it comes again, the cold and flu season. It makes sense to protect yourself against these common illnesses, especially as you get older. As you age, your body has a harder time fighting off infection – and a greater chance that an infection like the flu will develop into a more serious illness.

You can prevent the flu by getting a flu shot each fall. You can’t prevent the common cold with a vaccination (none exists), but you can take steps like washing your hands to avoid getting one.

A cold vs. influenza

Sneezing, sore throat, and headaches – which of these mean you have a cold and which are symptoms of the flu? According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the following are symptoms of both colds and flu:

Sore throat. This is much more common with the flu.

Runny nose and sneezing. These are more likely with a cold, and are rare with influenza.

Headache. You will always have a headache with the flu, and only occasionally with a cold.

Overall sick feeling. This is called malaise and is more profound with influenza than with a cold.

Fever. With a cold, it is a low-grade low-grade fever lasting one or two days. Fevers with the flu are high (100 degrees or higher) and last two to five days.

Muscle aches. These are more common with influenza than with a cold.

The flu is more likely to lead to pneumonia. For this reason, you need to know if you have a cold or the flu. A cold usually does not cause high fever (above 101 degrees), but the flu can. Also, a stuffy nose is probably a sign of a cold, rather than the flu. Overall, cold symptoms are milder and do not cause extreme exhaustion like the flu can.

Colds may occur any time of the year, although they are more common in the fall, when school begins; the winter; and the early spring. In the United States, influenza is usually seen from about October through April, and the rate of infection can peak in April or as late as May.

Cozy up to self-care

Because colds and influenza flu are caused by viruses, there is no cure. The course and severity of influenza, however, can be moderated by antiviral medications. If you are young and healthy, you don't need anything further than to let a cold or flu run its course. Older adults, particularly those with existing chronic health problems, should seek care for influenza and may do better with antiviral medication. Pamper yourself by resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Talk with your doctor about over-the-counter medicines that may help ease your symptoms.

Know when to see your doctor

The following symptoms may indicate a problem more serious than a common cold or influenza:

Chest pain or pressure

Stomach pain

Wheezing

High fever

Continued vomiting

Frequent colds

Shortness of breath that comes with little or no exertion

Phlegm or mucus produced for two or more weeks

A cough that lasts two weeks or produces blood

A persistent cough with a fever, for instance, could be a sign of pneumonia. See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms or if any symptoms last longer than usual for a common cold or the flu. The earlier you catch problems, the more easily they can be treated.

Think prevention

The CDC recommends the following vaccinations to protect you from influenza and pneumonia:

Influenza vaccine. You can protect yourself from the flu by getting a flu shot. It can be helpful if the people you spend time with also get flu shots. Because strains of the virus that causes the flu change each year, you'll need to get a flu shot each year. It's best to get the flu shot in the fall, before the flu season starts. The CDC recommends that all people ages 6 months and older get an annual flu shot. It is important that people at higher risk for complications of influenza get a flu shot. That includes those who have chronic heart or lung conditions; metabolic diseases like diabetes or kidney disease or who have a weakened immune system; and women who are or will become pregnant during flu season. People who have a severe allergy to eggs should not get a flu shot. A nasal spray vaccine is available for some healthy people ages 2 to 49.

Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. One of the most serious complications of the flu is pneumonia. You can protect yourself against the most common kind of pneumonia--pneumococcal--by getting a shot. If you're not sure if you've had this shot, ask your doctor. The CDC recommends a pneumococcal vaccine for anyone age 65 or older, smokers over the age of 19; and people who have a chronic disease or a weakened immune system. It also recommends a series of immunizations for children younger than 2.

Hundreds of different viruses can cause a cold, so no common cold vaccine exists. The best way to prevent a cold is to follow these five simple steps:

Wash your hands often.

Keep your hands away from your face, particularly your nose.

Stay away from people with cold symptoms.

Avoid crowds during cold season.

Don’t share cups, utensils, or towels with people who have a cold. It’s also helpful to keep your body and mind in good shape by eating a healthy diet, managing your stress, and getting enough sleep.